Shuttle delivers premier physics experiment to space station

NEWSALERT: Thursday, May 19, 2011 @ 1555 GMT
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  The latest news from Spaceflight Now

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SPACE STATION RECEIVES PREMIER PHYSICS EXPERIMENT
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An exotic experiment that could write the lasting scientific legacy of the
International Space Station by probing the mysteries of physics was
unloaded from the shuttle Endeavour and mounted atop the orbiting outpost
this morning.

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/status.html


ATLANTIS HOISTED FOR MATING TO TANK AND BOOSTERS
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For the final time in space shuttle program history, an orbiter has been
hoisted into position for attachment to the external fuel tank and solid
rocket boosters inside the Vehicle Assembly Building.

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts135/status.html

PHOTOS: SLING ATTACHED TO ATLANTIS
http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts135/110518slingattach/

PHOTOS: SHUTTLE HANGING INSIDE VAB
http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts135/110518vertical/

PHOTOS: ATLANTIS LIFTED FROM THE FLOOR
http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts135/110518lift/


ENDEAVOUR DOCKS TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
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Sailing on her last journey, Endeavour has arrived at the International
Space Station to bolster the outpost's scientific potential with a
particle physics detector to study the origins of the universe. But before
the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer gets installed Thursday, the astronauts
Wednesday morning transferred from Endeavour's payload bay the final batch
of large spare parts to sustain the station's viability after the space
shuttles are retired.

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/110518fd3/index2.html


NASA ASSESSES TILE DAMAGE ON SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR
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Close-up photos of heat shield tiles on the shuttle Endeavour's belly
taken during final approach to the International Space Station Wednesday
revealed several gouges and dings from apparent debris impacts during
launch. LeRoy Cain, chairman of NASA's Mission Management Team, said three
"areas of interest" may require an additional focused inspection Saturday
to collect more data.

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/110518fd3/index3.html


HEAVY-DUTY HEAT SHIELD PREPARES FOR LAUNCH TO MARS
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A massive carbon-covered heat shield, one of the largest ever built for
space travel, is now at the Kennedy Space Center being readied for launch
on NASA's next mission to Mars.

http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1105/18mslaeroshell/


ASTRONAUTS GIVE ENDEAVOUR FULL POST-LAUNCH INSPECTION
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The Endeavour astronauts, working a deep overnight shift, spent their
first full day in space inspecting the shuttle's nose cap and wing leading
edge panels for standard post-launch heat shield checks, testing equipment
needed for upcoming spacewalks and preparing for Wednesday's docking to
the International Space Station.

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/110517fd2/index3.html


ENDEAVOUR LAUNCHES ON HER 25TH AND FINAL VOYAGE
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Shuttle Endeavour safely sailed into orbit Monday on a 16-day journey to
the International Space Station to install the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer
experiment that promises to chart a new course in physics research, plus
deliver another stockpile of spare parts for supporting the outpost's
extended life.

http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/110516launch/


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